Retractable forceps

ABSTRACT

A forceps having relative pivoting forceps joined by connectors and jaws retractable by action of a helical spring in a chamber inside the connectors of the two forceps. A passage from the spring chamber outward to the exterior periphery of a first connector and opening in a space between the two jaws of the two forceps when the forceps and their jaws are retracted, permitting entry of cleaning materials into the interior of the forceps. The jaws being shaped and the passage into the interior of the forceps being so located and shaped that the passage into the interior of the forceps is blocked by at least one of the jaws when the forceps are gripped and the jaws are toward each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/249,609, filed Nov. 2, 2015, the contentsof the application being hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns forceps, and particularly an automaticretraction feature of the forceps. The forceps have particularapplication as dental forceps that may be used by a practitioner ofdentistry during the normal course of treatment. But, forceps of thisconfiguration may be used in other applications where an object isgrasped.

Forceps are generally comprised of two arms or two individual forceps,each having a respective jaw with a clamping surface toward one end ofeach forcep and a grasping handle at the other end of the forcep. Apivot connection between the forceps, located between the jaws and thegrasping handles of the forceps, enables a user to squeeze the handlestogether which moves the jaws at the other side of the pivot connectiontogether so that jaws or clamping surfaces of the forceps clamp on atooth or other object in the mouth or on any other object the forcepsare to grasp. Typically, the jaws of the forceps are manually movedtogether by the user squeezing the handles together and are alsomanually retracted by the user moving the handles and thereby the jawsapart.

Especially in the confined space of a patient's mouth and for possiblerepetitive uses of the forceps for a procedure, it is convenient for thepractitioner that the forceps be automatically retractable by thepractitioner loosening a squeezing grip on the handles, so that thehandles and the jaws will automatically or non-manually retract and moveapart. This is typically accomplished by a spring arrangement betweenthe jaws and/or the handles for pivoting the jaws and handles apartaround the pivot connection. In this forceps configuration, thepractitioner only need grasp and squeeze the handles together, which isthe easier process for him, and he need not manually separate the jaws.

For the automatic retraction function to be useful, the spring betweenthe forceps must be strong enough to retract the forceps apart withoutbeing so strong that repeated and/or prolonged gripping becomesdifficult or uncomfortable for the practitioner. The spring should be soplaced as to not interfere with closing or retracting the forcep. Theretraction is easily effected without the configuration of the forcepsinterfering with their use by a practitioner in the mouth of thepatient. The forceps are preferably compact. The retraction spring forcemay be generally as equally as possible applied to both of the jaws andhandles, and not to one of them, and a spring for applying theretraction force can be easily installed in the forceps.

PRIOR ART

The retractable forceps of the invention are one type of gripper thatoperates through pivot connected handles. Other types of grippers mayinclude pliers, scissors and shears and other products with pivotconnected handles and jaws. But, the invention disclosed herein isparticularly useful for dental forceps.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,078 discloses pliers having plier handles at one endof arms and jaws at the other end with a bolt serving as a pivotconnection for the handles and the jaws. A generally circular helicalspring is received in a circular recess around the hinge. The free endsof the helical spring are engaged in recesses in the handle parts of theforceps to automatically retract the handles of the pliers.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,392,118 describes a device having two pivot connectedarms, with graspable handles at one end and jaws at the other end of thearms. A helical spring is positioned around a bolt serving as a pivotconnection between the forceps, with a respective spring end in eachhandle.

United States Patent Publication 2013/0228047 shows pliers with jaws atone side of the hinge and graspable handles at the other side of thehinge. A helical spring is received in grooves of opposing surfaces ofthe two handles. The spring is fully enclosed within the pliers.

Chinese Patent Publication CN 2774711Y for a multi-purpose beauty clampshows a beauty clamp having two arms pivotally connected. A helicalspring is fully enclosed in opposing spring receiving slots on theinterior of both of the handles and around a hinge pin.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,208 shows a pair of scissors, including scissor armsthat are pivoted together at a hinge pin. A helical spring is wrappedaround the hinge pin between the handles and is connected with at leastone scissors blade to move the blades apart.

United States Patent Publication 2002/0124415 discloses a cutting toollike a scissor with two pivoted together arms. A spring is disposed in arecess inside opposing surfaces of the scissor arms and surrounds ahinge pin. The ends of the hinge pin extend toward the ends of thespring in each handle extending toward the jaws of the scissors.

U.S. Pat. No. 663,565 shows shears comprised of two arms, with handlesat one end and blades at the other end and a bolt serving as a hingepin. A helical spring is in grooves in the handle. The ends of thespring are parallel to each other and both ends are long enough toextend out of the groove, and then out of the handle. The openings arenot blocked periodically when the shears are in cutting position, andthere is no concept of periodically opening a blocked opening forenabling cleaning of the interior of the shears, spring or hinge pin.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,392,118 discloses a tool with handles at one end andjaws at the other end and a helical spring installed in slots on theinside surfaces of the two handles, with the slots in the handles andtherefore both ends of the spring extending generally parallel andtoward the handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to forceps which include two individual armsor forceps, with a gripping handle at or toward one end of each forcepand a jaw at or toward the other end of each forcep and a pivot elementextending in respective connectors located along both forceps so thatthe forceps may be pivoted together and retract apart.

A helical spring is enclosed in a chamber inside the connectors. Thespring encircles a pivot element for the forceps which element islocated at the connectors. The spring is held in that chamber which isconfigured to prevent the spring from contacting the pivot element.

The connectors have respective opposing surfaces that contact each otherand guide pivoting of the forceps. Each opposing surface has a grooveextending out toward the periphery of its connector. Each groovereceives a respective outwardly extending end of the helical spring. Onegroove extends at an angle partly toward the respective handle on theconnector exterior surface in which that groove is formed. The othergroove extends in generally the opposite outward direction toward arespective one of the jaws and exits the exterior periphery of therespective connector between the two jaws when the forceps areretracted.

The pivot connection between the two forceps is a bolt that has a headheld by a stepped hole in a first top connector. The bolt is threaded atthe other, shank end to be received in a threaded hole in another bottomconnector, whereby tightening of the threaded section of the bolt in thethreaded hole in the bottom connector secures the forceps together, andadjustment of the bolt determines the tightness of connector between theforceps.

The opening in the bottom connector permits the leading end of the boltto extend out the bottom side of the bottom connector. After assembly ofthe forceps with the bolt installed, the bottom surface and the end ofthe bolt are ground to define a closed, smoothed bottom end of thebottom connector and the bolt end.

The angles to which the forcep jaws separate on retraction open up theperipheral exterior of the connectors between the inward facing surfacesof the jaws and provide access to the open end of the groove that opensbetween the retracted jaws, enabling cleaning and sterilizing of theinteriors of the connectors, the spring chamber, the spring and thebolt. This removes the presence of and/or the effect of saliva, waterand blood, which may enter the connectors, et al. during a dentalprocedure in order to clean internal surfaces and avoid contamination ofthe forceps enabling their future use. The foregoing applies to forcepsused for other purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a retractable forcepsaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view partly in perspective of the bottom one of theforceps in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view partly in perspective from below of the top one ofthe forceps;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a bolt used for holding the forceps together;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a helical retraction spring for the forceps;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the top forcep in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the bottom forcep in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an elevational cross-section view of a fragment of the forcephereof showing the connection area between the two forceps and is incross-section to show installation of the retraction spring;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section and perspective view of a fragment of theforceps at the bearing surface of the first bottom forcep, showing thepassage and grooves for the spring in the bottom forcep;

FIG. 10 is a top end perspective view of the forceps in a retractedcondition;

FIG. 11 is bottom, perspective view of the forceps in the retractedcondition;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the top forcep with the spring installedtherein;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an assembled forcep from above;

FIG. 14 is a bottom, plan view of the assembled forceps;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the interior, bottom surface of the topforcep; and

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the interior, top surface of the bottomforcep.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

A forceps 20 is comprised of four major components, which include afirst arm 30 herein called a first bottom forcep 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and2, a second arm called a second top forcep 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, ahelically coiled spring 90 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 which biases the twoforceps 30 and 50 to pivot apart to the non-gripping retractedcondition, and a bolt 80 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 which assembles thecomponents together.

The forceps 20 are not limited to only the four parts mentioned above.Additional elements may be provided on the forceps for performingadditional functions, e.g. holding the forcep jaws mechanicallytogether, without a hand squeezing the handles together.

The first forcep 30 includes a first graspable handle 32 toward one endof the forcep. The second forcep 50 is comprised of a second graspablehandle 52 at the same end as handle 32 of the first forcep.

The first forcep 30 has a first jaw 34 toward its end for grasping anobject, such as a tooth. The second forcep 50 has a second jaw 54 towardthe same end as the first forcep for cooperating with the first jaw forgrasping. The jaws 34 and 54 are shaped and located to grasp an objectbetween them when the handles are squeezed together. The jaws 34,54 haverespective object grasping and for a preferred embodiment, have toothgripping regions 39,59 at their free ends. The jaw bodies 34,54 are ofslightly curved shape to aim the ends 39,59 toward each other. Othershapes for the bodies of the jaws may be used.

The first and second forceps 30 and 50 cross and pass by one another andpivot with respect to each other at a pivot located at respectiveconnectors 36,56 in the respective first and second forceps.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 15 and 16, each of the first and second forcepshas a respective annular connector 36, 56 that supports the otherconnector 36,56 on the other forcep. The connectors 36 and 56 compriserespective annular flat bearing surfaces 38,58 that are opposed to andseat against one another and there define the relative orientations ofthe forceps 30,50 as they pivot and as they are held.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 16 show the first bottom forcep 30 and expose a firstbottom inward facing bearing surface 38 of a first bottom connector 36of the first bottom forcep 30 between a first bottom jaw 34 and a firsthandle 32 of the first bottom forcep. FIGS. 1, 3 and 15 also expose asecond, inward facing when assembled, bearing surface 58 of a second topconnector 56 of the second top forcep 50. In the assembled forceps, thebearing surfaces oppose and bear against one another.

To establish a terminal gripping position for the jaws 30,50, the firstjaw 30 has a first abutment 40 and the second jaw 50 has an opposingsecond abutment 60, which are positioned to abut when the jaws 34,54 aremoved together by a user grasping the handles 32,52. The jaws can closetogether no further when the abutments 40,60 abut. As described below,access to the interiors of the connectors 36,56 is blocked when the jaws30,50 have been moved to abut by gripping of the handles 32,52.

When a user of the forceps 20 releases his grip of the handles 32,52,the handles retract. That retraction is limited by first and secondlimit stops 42,62 on the ends of the respective handles 32,52 at theconnectors 36,56. When the handles retract and pivot apart, the limitstop at the upper end 42 of the first handle 32 abuts the underside 63of the handle 52 and the upper end 62 of the handle 52 abuts theunderside 43 of the jaw 34, which prevents further movement apart orretraction of the handles and the jaws.

The two forceps 30,50 are attached together by and are pivotable arounda common axis defined by a pivot element, here a bolt 80, while therespective inward facing, opposing, bearing surfaces 38,58 contactduring the pivoting.

The forceps may be oriented in use with either one of them being on thetop side and the other being on the bottom side of the forceps. For theexplanation below, the second forcep 50 will be referred to as being onthe top above the bottom first forcep 30 below it.

The top, second forcep 50 has a hole 64 through it for receiving andholding a pivot connection between the forceps 30,50 in the form of abolt 80 that connects the second top forcep 50 with the first bottomforcep 30. The hole 64 has a wide top entrance 65 that tapers narrowerto a narrow region 66 on which the bolt head 82 is received. The narrowregion 66 of the opening cooperates with and may be complementary to theunderside 83 of the bolt head 82. The narrow region of the hole 64determines a maximum inserted depth of the bolt 80. This keeps theunderside 83 of the bolt head 82 above and spaced away from the belowdescribed helical retraction spring 90 avoiding contact between thebolt, which pivots with the lower jaw 30 into which the bolt 80 isscrewed, and the retraction spring 90, described below. The bolt 80 isscrewed into the first bottom connector 36, as described below. The head82 of the bolt has a screwdriver blade receiving slot 85 at which thebolt is tightened. The bolt should not rotate in rubbing contact withthe spring which eventually may damage the spring.

The bottom of the opening 66, 64 and the installed bolt head at 83defines a top wall of a chamber 73 for the retraction spring 90. Belowthe bottom 66 of the hole 64, the shank 84 of the bolt 80 extends intothe second lower forcep 30.

The first bottom forcep 30 has a stepped entrance opening 70 followeddownward from the second top forcep 50 by a wide diameter region 71terminating in a narrowed step 75 defining a floor of the spring chamber73 in the first lower connector in the first lower forcep. The helicalretraction spring 90 is retained in the chamber 73. That chamber 73 istall or deep enough to receive the spring 90 and to permit the helicalspring 90 to move as the forceps are gripped and released.

Below the chamber 73, the opening 70 continues in a threaded bore 74having a diameter of the diameter of the shank 84 of the bolt 80. Theshank 84 and the bore 74 are threaded complementary, so that the bolt 80is screwed into the bore 74. The bolt head 82 acting on the floor 66 ofthe top hole 64 draws the first bottom forcep 30 toward the bolt head82, and this secures the forceps 30,50 together. The bolt may betightened sufficiently to hold the bearing surfaces 38,58 of theconnectors together, but not so tight as to prevent pivoting of oneforcep with respect to the other at the bearing surface.

The chamber 73, which is in both of the first bottom connector 36 and inthe second top connector 56 receives the helical spring 90 shown inFIGS. 1 and 5. The chamber 73 has a large enough diameter that thespring, which may contact a peripheral wall of the chamber, is out ofcontact with the bolt shank 84.

The helical spring comprises a single complete helical, winding havingan inner diameter greater than that of the bolt shank 84, so that thehelical winding 92 of the spring 90 is normally out of contact with thebolt 80.

First and second spring ends 93,94 project generally radially outwardlyin generally opposite directions from the spring chamber 73. The firstbottom end 93 of the spring winding 92 is received in a first bottompassage 95 in the first bottom connector. The illustrated embodiment ofthe passage is particularly a groove 95 in the first top bearing surface38 of the first bottom connector 36. The second top end 94 of the springwinding 92 is received in a passage 96 in the second top connector 56.Each passage 95,96 extends radially outward across the respectiveconnector bearing surface to maximize biasing of the connectors forurging retraction of the forceps.

In the illustrated embodiment, each passage 95,96 comprises a groove inits respective opposed bearing surface with the first bottom spring end93 in the first bottom groove 95 in the first bearing surface 38 of thefirst bottom connector 36 and the second top spring end 94 in the secondtop groove 96 in the second bearing surface 58 of the second topconnector 56. Each groove 95,96 is open and exposed in its respectivebearing surface 38,58. Those bearing surfaces bear against each other asthe forceps pivot and each bearing surface closes the open exposed sideof the opposing groove 96,95 in the opposing bearing surface, to closethe groove and retain each spring end in its respective groove.

Each groove 95 and 96 extends out toward the periphery of the respectivebearing surface. The grooves 95,96 are narrow enough in width to containthe respective ends 93,94 of the spring and narrow so that gripping andreleasing of the handles 32,52 of the forceps moves the spring ends tocause relative pivoting of the individual forceps 30,50 to move thespring ends 93,94 to tension the spring and to retract the spring. Thiscould slightly decrease the diameter of the spring. But, the clearanceof the spring in the chamber 73 prevents the spring from contacting thebolt. Upon release of gripping the handles, the spring ends springretract to their original, less stressed condition and retract theforceps 30,50.

Selected placements of the grooves 95,96 around their respective bearingsurfaces 38,58 provides an additional benefit. In use, the forceps willlikely be exposed to contaminants that enter the interiors of theconnectors and contaminate their surfaces, enter the chamber 73 of thespring 90 and contact the spring 90, et al. For example, the jaws 34,54of a dental forceps 20 placed in a mouth are there exposed to saliva,possibly blood in the mouth, water and materials that the practitionermay be spraying into or placing in the mouth. This likely contaminatesthe jaws and handles of the forceps, and also areas inside theconnectors where contaminants may be trapped including passages orgrooves for the spring, the chamber for the spring in the connectors,around the bolt and into the interiors of both forceps. Attemptedcomplete sealing of the spring within the connectors and sealing theinterior of the connectors may not completely avoid entry ofcontaminants because there are moving parts both inside the forcep andexposed, possibly creating leakage pathways into the interior of theforceps.

At least one of the grooves 95 extends out to and opens at 98 on theperipheral exterior of its respective connector 36. Preferably, therespective spring end in the groove 95 is shorter in length then thegroove itself and does not project out of the opening from the groove at98. The spring end 94 is also shorter in length than the length of therespective groove 96. Both spring ends do not project out from theirgrooves and are protected by their respective connection bodies 36,56.That groove 95 is a conduit for fluids, steam, etc. into and out of theinterior of the connectors. The grooves 95,96 in the bearing surfacesfor the ends 93,94 of the spring 92 are wider than the spring enablingthe spring ends to move in their grooves, to tilt slightly as the springis flexed and released during gripping and retraction.

The grooves 95,96 in the peripheral exterior of the connectors 38,56 arepositioned around the connectors so that at least one, and possibly bothgrooves, can be exposed at the outward end of the groove when theforceps are retracted and not in use. Additionally, the end opening ofthe groove or groove is placed so that when the forceps are in use,those passages or grooves are closed off by the jaws and possibly alsoby the handles, to reduce or perhaps prevent the entry of substances,liquids, etc. into the interior of the connectors.

The groove end for the end 93 of the spring, preferably at the firstlower forcep 30 in which the bolt shank 84 is tightened has its opening98 on the peripheral exterior of the bearing surface 38 at a locationclose to the abutment 40 on the jaw 34, so that with the forceps boltedto each other and retracted by the spring, the exterior opening 98 ofthat groove 95 is exposed between the jaws 34,54 and particularlybetween their abutments 40,60. The exposed opening 98 between theabutments 40,60 permits entry of steam, a cleaning liquid, etc. into theconnectors to sterilize and clean the interiors of the connectors 36,56.The chamber 73 in which the spring 90 is disposed communicates betweenthe interiors of the top and bottom connectors 36,56 because the springin the chamber 73 communicates between the top and bottom connectors.

The other groove 96 at the other leg 94 of the spring is usually coveredby the top region of the handle at the connector 58 while the forcepsare either retracted or gripped together. It may be possible. By openingthe configuration of the upper end of the handle that covers the outerend of the second groove 96 in order to open that second groove atretraction, e.g. at complete retraction, there may be opening into thesecond groove into the interior of the forceps.

Possibly, the location of one end 93 of the spring toward the jaws 34,54and the other spring end 94 down toward the handles 32,52 divides theforces exerted by the spring more upward and downward on the forceps andmay help in the retraction.

Parts in the interior of the connectors are exposed to liquids and maycorrode. At least those parts are made of a material not likely tocorrode. For example, the forceps are fabricated from non-magnetic steelused for dental appliances. In addition, the helical spring may be madefrom the same steel, which also has sufficient resilience to return thespring to its original retracted condition. It is believed that steel ismore flexible than titanium, which is also non-rust material, buttitanium may also be used for the spring.

After the bolt 80 has been installed and tightened, all of the elementsof the forceps are in their designated locations. To help retain them intheir locations, the bottom exterior 99 surface of the bottom forcep atthe connector 36, in which the bolt shank 84 is screwed, and the end ofthe shank 84, to the extent that the shank projects out of the end ofthe opening 74 in the first bottom connector are ground sufficiently tophysically merge the end of the bolt shank 84 into the bottom surface 99of the bottom forcep and to make the bottom surface of the bottom forcepsmooth and to also secure the bolt against rotating with respect to thebottom forcep to which the bolt shank is installed.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ispreferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by thespecific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Forceps comprising: a first forcep and a separatesecond forcep; each forcep comprising a forcep body with a jawconfigured for gripping an object, the jaw being located toward one endof the forcep body; each forcep comprising a handle connected with therespective jaw and located toward another end of the forcep body; arespective first and second connector intermediate a length of each ofthe first and second forcep bodies between the jaw and the handle of theforcep, the respective connectors of the first and second forceps beingconnected to each other such that the first and second forceps arepivotable with respect to each other at and around the connectors; theconnectors including respective bearing surfaces which are positionedopposed to and contacting each other to slide over each other as thefirst and second forcep pivot with respect to each other; the bearingsurfaces opposing each other such that with the first and second forcepsconnected, the bearing surfaces define a path of pivoting of the firstand second forceps with respect to each other; the first and secondforceps being oriented with respect to each other such that the jawsthereof oppose so that the jaws may together grasp an object, and thehandles of the first and second forceps oppose each other to be pressedtoward each other and move apart and to correspondingly move therespective jaws of their respective forcep bodies; the first connectorhaving a first hole therein for receiving a pivot element, a pivotelement in the first hole in the first connector, the first hole beingsized to receive and retain the pivot element in the first connector andto prevent the pivot element from passing out the first connector towardthe second connector; the second connector having a second hole alignedwith the first hole for receiving the pivot element extending from thefirst hole; the second opening having a terminal portion thereof awayfrom the first connector and the terminal portion being configured forholding the pivot element in the terminal portion while the pivotelement is also held in the first hole; a chamber in a region at, aboveand below and encircled by the opposing bearing surfaces of the firstand second connectors; a helical wound spring in the chamber, the springbeing wound around the pivot element extending between the first andsecond connectors, and the spring and the chamber being sized such thatthe chamber holds the spring out of contact with the pivot element; afirst passage in the first connector extending out of the chamber towarda first peripheral exterior of the first connector and toward an openingon the first peripheral exterior, the first passage being shaped forreceiving and holding a first end of the helical spring to enablerotating the first spring end along with the pivoting of the connectors;the first passage being wide enough to enable the first end of thehelical spring to be supported in the first passage as the forcepspivot; a second passage extending out of the chamber in the secondconnector and shaped for receiving a second end of the helical spring;the first and second jaws opposing each other at the peripheries of theconnectors and between the first and second jaws; a respective abutmentarea on each of the jaws and opposing the abutment area on the other ofthe jaws; the first passage being at the peripheral exterior of thefirst connector at a location such that the first passage at theexterior of the connector is open in a space between the abutment areasof the jaws to provide access into the first passage and into thechamber for the spring and into an interior region of the forceps; and asecond passage in the second connector from the chamber toward theperipheral exterior of the second connector for receiving the second endof the helical spring and the second passage being of a shape to receivethe second end of the helical spring so that the helical spring pivotswith the second connector.
 2. The forceps of claim 1, wherein thechamber in the connectors and the helical spring therein are sized sothat the spring is out of contact with the pivot element in the chamber.3. The forceps of claim 2, wherein the pivot element comprises a boltextending between the first connector and the second connector, whereinthe bolt has a portion in contact with the first connector such thattightening of the bolt in the second connector urges the first andsecond connectors together; and the bolt has a connecting portion in thesecond connector for connection to the second hole through the secondconnector such that the bolt tightened into the first connector and thesecond connector draws the connectors together.
 4. The forceps of claim1, wherein the first passage in the first connector comprises a firstgroove in the first bearing surface in which the first end of the springis disposed.
 5. The forceps of claim 4, wherein the second bearingsurface covers the first groove to retain the spring in the firstgroove.
 6. The forceps of claim 4, wherein the second passage in thesecond connector comprises a second groove in the second bearing surfacein which the second end of the spring is disposed.
 7. The forceps ofclaim 4, wherein the first passage has a first length and the first endof the spring has a length in the first groove shorter than the firstlength.
 8. The forceps of claim 5, wherein the first and second bearingsurfaces of the first and second connectors respectively close thesecond and first grooves for the first and second ends of the spring forretaining the ends of the spring in their respective grooves.
 9. Theforceps of claim 3, further comprising the bolt has a head disposed inthe first hole and a head portion below the bolt head and so shaped thatthe bolt head portion engages the first connector for preventing thebolt head from moving through the first connector; the bolt connectingportion extending into the second hole has a thread complementary to athread on the bolt for tightening the bolt shank and the bolt into thesecond connector and drawing the first and the second bearing surfacestogether.
 10. The forceps of claim 1, further comprising the secondpassage for the second spring is located around the peripheral exteriorof the second connector, the second handle of the second forceps has asurface toward the peripheral exterior of the second connector, thesecond handle surface being of a size around the peripheral exterior ofthe second connector and so located around the second connector withrespect to the second passage as to cover an opening at the peripheralexterior of the second connector into the second passage during at leastpart of the pivoting of the second forcep with respect to the firstforcep.
 11. The forcep of claim 1, wherein the second passage extendsfrom the chamber for the spring outward in the second connector towardthe exterior of the forcep on the periphery of the second connector. 12.The forcep of claim 1, wherein the forceps, the spring and the pivotelement are comprised of a non-corroding material.
 13. The forcep ofclaim 12, wherein the non-corroding material is non-magnetic steel. 14.The forcep of claim 13, wherein the non-corroding material is titanium.